Gratitudinally Speaking

[DaBee]

......from Safford, Arizona. Quickly in on the library computer, then zipping and zapping out of the town.
Miss y'all. The Gila River Riparian Conservation Area has captured our hearts for now. So much to see and feel and learn. Especially love the "only the sounds of nature quiet".
Ahhhhh......so soothing to the soul.
Namaste,
deb and robert
(p.s....AT - has your email address changed?)

[daturasgarden]

So good to hear from you Deb! I hope you're journaling and taking lots of pictures to share someday! :)

[mtnviewsteve]

:cool:
~Blessings Deb/Robert~great hearing from you and look forward to pictures soon~
:cool:

[Jeannie Jones]

Jeannie~ That's much better to view. Very nice collection. I especially like the baskets. They really show the intricacies of the crochet stitches. Does the cord feel as smooth and cool as it looks. Love things that have a good feel.

The other day I was wondering what a piece done with a giant hook would look like. So large a person could walk through it. Climbing over the stitches as a child in a jungle gym.

Thanks, Becky & AT. AT, the largest hook I've used is a Q hook (on the pieces pictured I used F and G hooks), but I really like your idea. If you could guide its use with your mind, you could crochet a home! You'd need some kind of a lining...maybe hay bales. Crochet a dome home and you could climb all over the whole thing!

In answer to your first question, how the nylon cord feels depends a lot on the size hook you use. A smaller hook creates a stiffer piece, and a larger hook...more pliable work. Also the stitch...that sand-colored swirl bag has nothing inside it and holds itself upright very well. The brightly-colored bag has my usual bag contents in it and if it didn't, it would collapse kind of flat. It does feel cool. Y'know how the yarn or cord slides along your finger when you crochet...well, this nylon cord can be quite abrasive if you've been at it a while and are crocheting tightly. Interesting stuff to work with.

Patt, the wooden-handled hooks are FAB!!! I don't know if they make them smaller, but at Hobby Lobby they start with a G. I have G, H and K. Just before that, I got a set of square-headed plastic hooks, and have been getting the wood kind just every so often. These squarish-headed hooks are sooooo much easier to use than the old-fashioned kind. One thing I like about the wood is that my hands perspire a lot, and the yarn doesn't slide well over a hook that's not totally dry. When you hold only the wood, the hook part stays dry. I think they're maybe a buck more expensive than the reg. hook, but are well worth it.

[PMilam]

Thanks.. that will go on my 'next trip to Fville' list.

Ah... Deb, hello... while you are in the area, have you been to Sedona and Jerome? Safe travels!

I just love the west.. it just speaks to my spirit. I don't know if I could live in the desert.. but I do love it so.

[tomkat]

Patt, do you ever wonder if your joint pain is exacerbated by the chemo you underwent in your breast cancer battle? I too have some joint pain -- it hasn't really slowed me down, but it IS noticeable -- primarily in my knees, ankles and one of my fingers.
I have read in numerous articles that one of the side effects of chemo is joint pain.
Or do I just not want to admit that now that I have hit 50 these things are going to start happening to me???!!!

[DaBee]

NUANNAARPOQ

[Becky Davis]

Ahhh....so happy you feel that way.:)

[mtnviewsteve]

:cool:
~Blessings for the New Year and~
"We also are taking an inordinate pleasure in being alive" or maybe "the extravagant pleasure of being alive".
~Namaste DeBo & RoBeRt~
:cool:

[Jeannie Jones]

Glad this thread got dusted off and brought back out! Hope that the new year is even better for everyone than this one was. Wishing you good health and peace of mind.

[celeste]

Lemme be the first in 2008 to wish y'all a very long gratitude list, as Eureka Springs, my neighbors & friends here top MINE!

[PMilam]

And from Riverdream, blessings for the greatest new year.
War is Over.

Tomkat, I guess it's been a while since I checked in here.
I had rads, rather than chemo.. and the worst pain is in the area of the rads. I have no doubt that it has affected me.
I'm having new pain just lately.. hate to acknowledge it!!
It runs the length of my left arm, on the inside.. the side of the cancer and rads..

Last year at this time I was waiting for a 3 mo. ck up.. the oncologist felt that I had another cancer.. tho he couldn't find it... it was not there!!!!

I'm praying that the rest of my life be cancer free!!!!

And this year my energy level is high!

Happy New Year!!!

[Becky Davis]

I'm right there wishing the same for you sister.

[dmcarm]

what a great idea having this place to "unload" and support one another. although i can sure relate to the misery of sickness, at this point i am so grateful to be above ground. and to be way above it in eureka springs is an unparalleled blessing. now i just have to go out there and "meet people." being a newbie w an illness is somewhat isolating at times. which makes this thread on the board such a nice place to be.

[PMilam]

Welcome, dmcarm! :howdy:

It is a great place.. where no one picks on any one else.
A place to find solace, empathy and a place just to let it out.

Don't know how much you have read here.. but a lot of us have or have had serious health issues. When ever you feel like it.. dive on in!

I'm pretty isolated, myself... mostly on purpose. I love it out here in the quiet.. and it's a 30 min drive, so I don't make it often. I've not come eye to eye to many on here that I feel pretty close to. It's an interesting phenomenon.
I miss having someone to work/play with.. gardening, mosaic, jewelry making, random are projects. I miss that one on one free flow conversations about any subject, but mostly on the state of being human.. and spirit.

[dmcarm]

some redundancy in saying "thanks" on a thread called "gratitudinally speaking." but thanks. you are my first contact on here. since you mentioned gardening, can you tell me the approximate last freeze date for this area. i am getting itchy fingers and just had two envelopes of seed packs arrive today.
on the health issue, i am in remission for throat cancer. now there's a life altering experience.

[PMilam]

Middle to later March.. lately, it's hard to tell.
Find something else for the itchy fingers to do for a bit.
Clean out your garden.. fertilize.. I'm sure you know that.

My son in law was diagnosed in June '03 with tonsil cancer, then in Sept, same year, I found out I had breast cancer.
I had been told to come back in 6 mo.. if I had only gone back in 3.. I might still have breasts.. anyway.. I'm pretty used to it now.. but those fears have a way of sneaking in.
A new spot, or lump or soreness.. and my mind goes off.
I had a recurrence in '06.. and did radiation. I will never do that again. At least I say that now, when I'm feeling the best I have in over 4 years.

Did you have rads? My sil did.. whew.. what a deal.. definitely life altering!

Where did you move here from?
I'm a TX girl, been here now, over 1/2 my life.. well, in AR.

[Another Texan]

Welcome to the neighborhood dmcarm! As the handle implies, I originated in Tx as well. We, my husband and our daughter moved here in Aug '03. I'm at SunFest most weekdays till 4pm. My name tag says "Mary" feel free to say hi.

[Jeannie Jones]

dmcarm, a belated but sincere welcome to this little corner of the world and this little corner of Geekfest! Glad you decided to speak up, so to speak. You'll always find a sympathetic listening ear over here. I can imagine how daunting it must feel to face meeting people as a throat cancer survivor. As PMilam said, many of us over here on the Gratitude Journal have survived something serious or are presently dealing with physical problems, so this is probably a good place for you to start. I've met many good friends through Geekfest, for which I am very grateful.

I lived in Eureka for 20 yrs, leaving in '98 to be with my aging mother. Originally from Chicago, I had lived in other parts of the country, but when I visited my folks who had retired on Beaver Lake just outside of Eureka, I knew I had found my new hometown.

[Magicalfire]

I recently had hundreds of people from Geekfest reading my blog http://jeannelupypciw.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/where-do-you-rank-a-comparison-of-what-is-eaten-in-one-week-from-various-countries/
so I wanted to find out more about your group.

As I began reading the gratitude journal I realized how many people have been suffering with illness in your group & knew it was not a coincidence that so many reached out to me. I believe I was called to your group to be of assistance. My specialty is in helping people unlock their highest potential. I have helped thousands of clients worldwide to overcome pain, cancer, depression, stress, fatigue, seizures, etc. I work with pro-athletes, children & celebrities to achieve strength, vitality & self esteem.

I would like to offer my assistance to your group as gratitude for reaching out. I believe your prayers found me, so I am answering. If you need anything, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Lupypciw
N8Inspiration@mac.com
UnlockBlocks.com (http://www.unlockblocks.com)

[DaBee]

Jeanne - You can see the responses from a thread about your web site here: http://www.geekfest.com/showthread.php?t=145724&highlight=jeannelupypciw

[dmcarm]

sorry, can't help playing on words, being an ex english teacher. (note the lack of capital letters. great time saver and you get the message just as clearly, right?) anyway, thank you for the welcomes and the info on when to plant. i have something to do w my fingers. digital scrapbooking, in particular writing a cookbook for my kids along w family pics and stories that go w the recipes. anybody out there into scrapbooking?
btw, as a eurekan newbie, i am developing a healthy respect for these mt rods. @#$& i hate having to have my truck hauled out of the ditch. but it was way preferrable to going off the valley side of the mt. forget when the last frost is. i just want to know when the last snow is. :cool: not cool. snow blindness.

[dmcarm]

sorry, can't help playing on words, being an ex english teacher. (note the lack of capital letters. great time saver and you get the message just as clearly, right?) anyway, thank you for the welcomes and the info on when to plant. i have something to do w my fingers. digital scrapbooking, in particular writing a cookbook for my kids along w family pics and stories that go w the recipes. anybody out there into scrapbooking?
btw, as a eurekan newbie, i am developing a healthy respect for these mt rods. @#$& i hate having to have my truck hauled out of the ditch. but it was way preferrable to going off the valley side of the mt. forget when the last frost is. i just want to know when the last snow is.

[Jeannie Jones]

Yikes! Sorry to hear you ended up in a ditch, but it sounds like it certainly was preferable to the alternative! :eek:

[PMilam]

I love the snow.. and have learned to respect the snow.. I just walk on it!

Craig drives.. he was in knots when he got home, last night, and tonight.. he said that 221N was terrible.

Stay at home, if you possibly can. It's not worth the risk.

[celeste]

Thank God for those who survived the tornadoes with life & limb. I'm grateful we Eurekans are willing, able & glad to help. I love my community!

[PMilam]

I'm so grateful for my home, garage, barn, trees, everything is the way it was on Tuesday morning.

I am grateful for all those people that just picked up and went to the aid of those that have lost so much.

[celeste]

I am ever grateful to live here, in Eureka Springs, after having been in the evening traffic of Bentonville after dropping my friend at XNA & dropping of supplies to another friend in Decision Point.

[DaBee]

Just had to go back and visit my old gratitude attitude buddies.
Has life changed much for any of you since February of this year?
It sure has for me!

[mtnviewsteve]

Just had to go back and visit my old gratitude attitude buddies.
Has life changed much for any of you since February of this year?
It sure has for me!
:cool:
Wow~Yes~ I think I know how Alice felt in Wonderland. Last Feb. I was working steady~Got laid off 1st of May~remained unemployed for 6- months~And have just now become eligible for disability~Through ALL this we have felt Blessed and actually have been. ~
We have so much to be grateful for~Family in Tennessee~Our extended Spirit family of Eureka and the surrounding areas~Our home~~Our health~Our pets~Our happiness and love we share together~All things great and small~
Blessings for the Season and coming New Year~
S & M
:cool:

[Teresa DeVito]

Just had to go back and visit my old gratitude attitude buddies.
Has life changed much for any of you since February of this year?
It sure has for me!

One year in Eureka. One season at the restaurant. Almost everything about my life has changed. As I mentioned on the "Blessings" thread, the changes came about when I was still enough to let it roll.

My old life in Fayetteville is a pleasant memory though. Lots of lessons learned. I am grateful for all that is. I think I'll stay! :D

How about you Deb?

[DaBee]

Yes yes, NG. It would take a full page to describe all of the events and changes since February. Really attempting to live it all one moment at a time has cushioned some of the hard leaps and bounds. I never do anything the easy way, it seems. I'm here though and fersher with gratitude in my heart :).

[PMilam]

Whew doggies.. changes .. many.. ya'll know most of mine.. I'm a blabber mouth!

One thing fersher, I'm glad we are in it together!

[DaBee]

I love the way you share these changes with us, Patt. Your openness is refreshing and inspiring to others. I'm glad we're in this together, also.

[Jeannie Jones]

I love the way you share these changes with us, Patt. Your openness is refreshing and inspiring to others. I'm glad we're in this together, also.

What Deb said!

[DaBee]

Higher Knowledge: Enriching & Enabling Factor
By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Most people would agree we all want to live in a kinder, more humane
world. A world where there is respect for human life, economic
resources are shared, and the old and infirm are treated with
dignity. In each of these areas there is room for improvement.
Economically, many are still without the basic necessities of life and
go hungry. Even in the richest country on earth, often the sick go
untreated.

Further most would agree, somehow, as a planet we need to work
together to share our natural resources and improve our collective
circumstance. It is at this point, when we try to identify and
prioritize what areas need improving and how we are to accomplish this
all, we start to disagree and things break down.

Rationale or linear thought is able to tackle some of these problems,
offering possible solutions; however, this form of thought is not able
to solve all problems. It has limitations and, in some areas, is like
the cart and horse that is without a driver and going around in
circles. Generally, for problems which involve the needs of divergent
groups, there is no balancing factor and the needs of one group bounce
unsuccessfully against the needs of others. In situations like this,
self-interest repeatedly rears its head and there appears to be no
corrective. Many are slow to accept that the needs of the individual
are bound to the needs of the many.

What is the corrective to this harmful self-interest? What factor
reconciles the needs of different nations while sharing the earth's
resources in an ecologically sound manner?

The balancing factor is higher knowledge or knowledge that is
spiritual in nature and tied to our collective higher destiny. It must
be added to the mix and used with our other capacities to find
solutions. Higher knowledge will not replace common sense,
experience, hard work, or economic imperative. That is not its
function. It is an added capacity which integrates and works
alongside others.

The spiritual traveler maintains humanity is evolving to a higher
condition. This evolutionary process is according to Design, and is
purposeful and directed. The outcome of this process is better
individuals who are more complete, balanced and better able to serve
others. This higher state of being can only be reached when the
integrating factor is added. This is holistic thought or increased
spiritual capacity. It is attained one traveler at a time and only by
entering upon a path to spiritual completion. Better people make a
better world. More complete travelers make sounder decisions and are
equally concerned about their neighbor and themselves.

Many paths are sacred and all travelers have the potential to reach
higher. The higher consciousness teaches we are connected and have
within a Divine spark of energy. As we come to understand this and be
one with this energy, we experience our connectedness to others and
are better able to serve. Spiritually, this oneness links us and we
take positive, holistic, action. Better people select honest,
hardworking representatives. These representatives combine to form a
useful government that participates in a richer, more humane world.

If we are truly committed to making a better world, we start with
ourselves. We seek to create the best version of our self and use all
our talents. This includes added spiritual capacity and higher
knowledge.

Yes, this planet can be a wonderful place to live. Yet, we must work
together and solve our mutual problems. This willingness to work
together comes naturally to some and for others only after a personal
catastrophe or natural disaster of some kind. For many problems
facing us, this coming together of people is essential. We are one
family and must remember our common heritage or in time our planet may
be lost.

Added spiritual capacity and higher knowledge is the missing
ingredient and enabling factor. Each of us must take personal steps
to add this element to our lives and fully embrace the higher
potential in all the great religions. Then, the needs of the many
will more easily reconcile with the needs of the few.

[PMilam]

Thanks for bringing this thread back up.. over a year, we've let it languish.

Newcomers might find this a very interesting read.. and find out a lot about some of us!!

[PMilam]

WHISPERS OF LOVE

Lover whispers to my ear,
"Better to be a prey than a hunter.
Make yourself My fool.
Stop trying to be the sun and become a speck!
Dwell at My door and be homeless.
Don't pretend to be a candle, be a moth,
so you may taste the savor of Life
and know the power hidden in serving." RUMI